Prompt: Reflect on your Tutor Activity Forms and/or other activities you've engaged in with the students at your PDS. What have you learned from the relationship you've built with some of the students in your classroom (learning styles, student engagement, teaching strategies that were successful, relating to students' experiences such as previous success in school, parental support?)
When I look back at my Tutor Activity Forms from this semester, I have really come to realize that teaching is not an easy thing. I did an activity with several students who were struggle with the concept of a number grid. I just couldn't understand how they didn't see that it started with 1 and went to 100. It was frustrating at times, but then I would just sit back and remember that when I was in the first grade I also struggled with math, and maybe if someone at my school would have give me extra help and had stated patient with me, I might not have had such a hard time. Remembering this, I have started to be more patient with the students and I just remind myself that if I can be the one person during their day that shows them I care, then maybe they will have a better attitude towards math and other subjects in school.
There is one student at my PDS who is very conscious about school work, and this student is in the second grade. One day he came to school very upset because he forgot to do a homework assignment. He was absolutely terrified that he was going to to get expelled, and was so upset his mother came into school to sort out the problem. His mother had me tell him that his teacher is very nice and he was not going to get expelled. When I told him this, he gave me a hug. After that day, he asks me for help all the time and I can tell that he really trusts me.
With other students at my PDS, I have learned that some students are very independent and can handle themselves in the classroom with very little instruction and help to complete activities. With others, this is not the case. There are students in my PDS classroom that need told how to do an assignment 3 or 4 times and then they understand. I have learned that giving directions once will not satisfy every student. The thing I have learned the most is that I need to make sure every student is given attention during the school day.
Question: Where there any students in your classroom that you built a relationship with?
I completely agree with your statement about realizing teaching isn’t an easy job. It wasn’t until I was put into the classroom to witness everything that actually happens. You are right about every student learning on different levels and having to adapt to their needs. Sometimes that is difficult to accomplish considering the teacher must satisfy all the others also. I feel like I have made a connection with each child in the preschool classroom by either joining them at a center or giving them individualized attention through play. I would ask open-ended questions, along with letting them explore new ideas. My goal was to make them excited about new discoveries and to consistently put a smile on their faces.
ReplyDeleteOne young boy that I particularly built a relationship with had behavioral issues. My mentor teacher suggested trying to work more one-on-one with him because he needed the additional learning support. He is an energetic, cheerful boy who likes to come to school and interact with his classmates. Although when he interacts with his peers, he has trouble sharing, taking turns, and working together through play. I worked with him as much as I could when this type of situation occurred. I would express how each of those qualities is important in the classroom in order to make friends and be nice. I would say, “How would you feel if they didn’t share a toy with you?” He usually wouldn’t respond, but later would demonstrate he understood. He always wanted to sit on my lap during circle time or sit by him at lunch because I felt a close adult figure reminded him of his parents. I would give him individualized attention through talking and playing, which created a closer relationship. I enjoyed working with him, along with all the other children in the preschool class. Throughout the semester, I gained a lot of experience in the younger classroom and will carry the knowledge learned with me through future classes.